Diabetes & Insulin

Question 1

What is glucose?

Answer 1

A large polar molecule that needs a glucose transporter

Question 2

How does insulin cross cell membrane?

Answer 2

Insulin activates receptors and recruits a vesicle to open cell membrane

Question 3

How is high blood glucose regulated?

Answer 3

• There is a decrease in Alpha cells, which decreases glucagon
• There is an increase in Beta cells, which increases insulin
• These both decrease blood glucose

Question 4

How is low blood glucose regulated?

Answer 4

• There is an increase in Alpha cells, which increases glucagon
• There is a decrease in Beta cells, which decrease insulin
• These both increase blood glucose

Question 5

What are the main actions of insulin?

Answer 5

Stimulation via:
- Glycogenesis
- Lipogenesis
- Protein synthesis
Inhibition via:
- Glycogenesis
- Gluoconeogenesis
- Lipolysis
- Protein breakdown

Question 6

What is diabetes?

Answer 6

A disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, leading to a state of hyperglycaemia and changes in nutrient (CHO, PRO & FAT) metabolism and storage

Question 7

What are normal glycaemia levels?

Answer 7

• Fasting blood glucose of 4-6 mmol/L

- HbA1c less than or equal to 40 mmol/mol

Question 8

What are intermediate hyperglycaemia levels?

Answer 8

• Fasting blood glucose of 6.1-6.9 mmol/L

- HbA1c of 41-49 mmol/mol

Question 9

What are diabetic levels?

Answer 9

• Fasting blood glucose of greater to equal to 7 mmol/L

- HbA1c of greater or euqal to 50 mmol/mol

Question 10

What are the 3 P’s

Answer 10

• Polyuria (increased urination)
• Polyphagia (increased hunger)
• Polydipsia (increased thirst)

Question 11

What does insulin deficiency do to ketones?

Answer 11

Converts them intro Krebs acids

Question 12

Why fatigue is a sign of diabetes?

Answer 12

Cells are starved of eergy

Question 13

Why do muscles waste in uncontrolled diabetes mellitus?

Answer 13

Due to proteins being broken down and increases vomiting/nausea

Question 14

Why may the smell of acetone on the breath be an indicator of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus?

Answer 14

Acidosis

Question 15

What ‘osmotic diuresis’ means?

Answer 15

Increased osmotic pressure causes increased fluid in the urine

Question 16

What are key changes to adipose tissue with increased adiposity?

Answer 16

Increased inflammation and loss of metabolic control

Question 17

What is intermediate hyperglycaemia ‘prediabetes’?

Answer 17

When a person has impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
– HbA1c 41-49 mmol/mol

Question 18

Why is intermediate hyperglycaemia ‘prediabetes’ a risk factor?

Answer 18

• 70% of people with intermediate hyperglycaemia develop T2D

- Many vascular complications begin before HbA1c reaches diabetic diagnostic levels

Question 19

What is metabolic syndrome?

Answer 19

A cluster of interrelated metabolic abnormalities diagnosed by a co-occurrence of three out of following five:

• Abdominal (central) obesity
• Elevated fasting plasma glucose
• Hypertension
• High serum triglycerides (TG)
• Low HDL levels